Innovation Forum Visits Faculties and Centers
OsloMet's Innovation Forum is visiting faculties and centers this autumn. Oceanlab, the ocean laboratory at the Faculty of Technology, Art, and Design, was the first stop at the end of September.
OsloMet has established an Innovation Forum led by the Vice-Rector for Social Improvement and Collaboration, Carl Thodesen. The forum serves in an advisory capacity on innovation matters and consists of pro-deans for innovation from the faculties, center directors from SPS and SVA, a student representative, the Director of Education, the Director of Research, and two innovation experts.
"We have different types of innovation at OsloMet, and that's why I want the Innovation Forum to become more familiar with what innovation means at the various faculties and centers," says Vice-Rector for Social Improvement and Collaboration, Carl Christian Thodesen.
During their meetings with the Innovation Forum, the units will present concrete examples of innovation and share their experiences from this work – what works and what can simplify innovation efforts. The forum will take these inputs and consider how they can contribute to strengthening the university's innovation capacity in both research and education.
Innovative Engineering Students
Research and educational activities at Oceanlab are related to technology and the sea. During the tour, employees presented a bachelor project associated with the Horizon Europe project ANERIS, in which OsloMet is a partner. In their bachelor's project, Giorgio Salvemini and his fellow students developed a prototype for monitoring underwater biodiversity.
"Compared to existing installations, our invention is produced at a lower cost and can be used for a longer time underwater. We have developed a wiping mechanism to remove the biological material that accumulates on objects underwater," says Salvemini.
The prototype was tested in the Oslo Fjord in May and will now be further developed and tested with ANERIS partners in Spain and Ireland.
Watch a video presentation of the underwater project ANERIS (youtube.com).
"It was fun to contribute to the project. Knowing that the prototype will be further improved in collaboration with partners motivated me to do my best. The project taught me to collaborate on a larger project than I am used to," says Salvemini.
The Innovation Forum also heard how teaching includes collaboration with businesses/industry and reflections on possible areas for improvement in this regard.
Seeking Coordination
Vice-Rector for Social Improvement and Collaboration, Carl Thodesen, emphasizes the importance of coordinating the university's innovation work.
"To succeed, we need employees working on innovation in various positions and at different levels to pull in the same direction."
"I'm pleased that we are now able to meet many of those working on innovation across faculties and centers, and I hope these meetings can help units come together even more closely in the field of innovation."
The Innovation Forum will visit the Faculty of Social Sciences on October 23.
Read more about how innovation work at OsloMet is organized.
